We got into a town the next day and decided to take a zero to hide out from the weather. We hiked out and found an old abandoned house on a pond that we explored before getting to a shelter and playing some cards. That night we met a couple southbound hikers who had just had to carry out a pack for a hiker we knew that fell ill on trail and hit his rescue device to be carried out by first responders. One of the southbounders had gotten lyme disease early on the trail and had been hospitalized for two weeks. He had let it go for too long and ended up with meningitis and permanent brain damage that left him unable to work. So basically he scared the crap out of all of us who had gotten lyme. We got out early the next day and it was really tough. Southern Maine has been no joke so far, very difficult climbs and boulder hopping is what we do mostly. We got into town for a resupply and some dinner but were stopped by a torrential downpour. We decided to hang out until the rain stopped but it wasn't letting up so we went around the restaurant making small talk and hoping for a place to stay. We ran into a girl named Megan who said the six of us could stay at her place if we bought her a beer. To our surprise she had fully made bunk beds for all of us and had run a hostel the year before. That night we met her roommate who told us we needed to take another zero and he would show us around town. We agreed and the next day we spent at a swimming hole, cliff jumping, then we went and played nine holes of golf and capped the night off with a game of poker which I lost miserably. The next day we hit the trail but I was struggling to breathe. I decided to turn around and hike back into town but not before being startled by a frog and passing out on trail. I made it down and am taking it easy until I can breathe a little easier. Already starting to feel better. Mile 2001. 188.2 miles left!